NationStates Jolt Archive

I know NS is a motley bunch. We have people from all over, and since I just got a "aguinaldo" and "canata" by kids here at the office, singing Spanish Christmas songs and dancing, I wanted to know which are the Christmas traditions from your neck of the woods?

Those of you who do not celebrate Christmas can talk about their particular holiday traditions.

I usually hide until its over again.

We just have the usual ones around here. Though making me work an 18 hours shift seems to be a tradition at my job.

I celebrate St. Octopus Day. It is typically a long event, though the main day involves the consumption of calamari. It lasts from mid-December to the first week of January. There are gifts, but those are optional. No horrible carols or anything like that. No need for family-related crap. Just flagrant self-indulgent crap. :D

here we have luminarias all over town (centered on the catholic church) on christmas eve.

its surprising how pretty paper lunch bags filled with sand and an tea candle can be all lit up after dark.

they have big organized tours in albuquerque to see them all lit up in old town and in the fancier areas.

One tradition I like is the Christmas lottery. :p

One tradition I like is the Christmas lottery. :p
what makes it special?

what makes it special?

It's a lot of euros. That's what's so special. :D

Does being grumpy every year count as a tradition?

My family puts a pickle on the tree :)

My family puts a pickle on the tree :)

What's the story behind the pickle? I'm curious.

What's the story behind the pickle? I'm curious.

German immigrant tradition, actually. Not too common in Germany, but for whatever reason, German immigrants to the US created something of a tradition by which the child who finds the pickle first gets a special gift--usually an orange or bar of chocolate or something.

German immigrant tradition, actually. Not too common in Germany, but for whatever reason, German immigrants to the US created something of a tradition by which the child who finds the pickle first gets a special gift--usually an orange or bar of chocolate or something.

Phew, and here I was thinking it might be a representation of Jesus' disabled twin brother who died right after birth or something like that.

Phew, and here I was thinking it might be a representation of Jesus' disable twin brother who died right after birth or something like that.

Well, not the pickle itself, but the kid who doesn't find the pickle is exactly that.

German immigrant tradition, actually. Not too common in Germany, but for whatever reason, German immigrants to the US created something of a tradition by which the child who finds the pickle first gets a special gift--usually an orange or bar of chocolate or something.

Kinda like an Easter egg hunt or something? Cool!

has it become traditional to engage in the war on christmas yet?

The late late toy show. Complaining about the declining standards of the late late toy show.

We have an annual orgy for Dragonmas (December 18th). *nodnod*

We have an annual orgy for Dragonmas (December 18th). *nodnod*

Interesting. :tongue:

Usual ones. Few quirks such as declaration of christmas peace.

Usual ones. Few quirks such as declaration of christmas peace.

But, what do the Finnish do for Christmas?

But, what do the Finnish do for Christmas?

Sit home and do stuff.

Sit home and do stuff.

What kind of stuff?:confused:

What kind of stuff?:confused:

BTW according to the Finnish Wiki, alchohol sale is a it's hight under christmas.
But, mostly watch the telly.

The usual:

Open presents.
Enjoy presents.
Somehow an argument starts between someone.
Avoid person for about an hour
Make up over Christmas dinner
Enjoy each others company for the rest of the day.

I know NS is a motley bunch. We have people from all over, and since I just got a "aguinaldo" and "canata" by kids here at the office, singing Spanish Christmas songs and dancing, I wanted to know which are the Christmas traditions from your neck of the woods?


Well, it's still early - usually we have some panettone at the office the last workday before Christmas (this year it will be the 23rd).
As for the real stuff, my family's tradition (being from northern Italy) is the monster-lunch at Christmas: usually we sit down at noon and stand up again (if we're able to walk) not before six o'clock. Ravioli in broth, cappone, boiled beef, thistles, calf in sauce tonnè, crescenza, fruit mostarda, and of course panettone.
Since my fianceè is from central Italy, though, I also get the Christmas' Eve dinner, which is, of course, based on fish - though they don't like the traditional eel.

Well, it's still early - usually we have some panettone at the office the last workday before Christmas (this year it will be the 23rd).
As for the real stuff, my family's tradition (being from northern Italy) is the monster-lunch at Christmas: usually we sit down at noon and stand up again (if we're able to walk) not before six o'clock. Ravioli in broth, cappone, boiled beef, thistles, calf in sauce tonnè, crescenza, fruit mostarda, and of course panettone.
Since my fianceè is from central Italy, though, I also get the Christmas' Eve dinner, which is, of course, based on fish - though they don't like the traditional eel.

Thistles?

Thistles?

Yes. Milk thistles (quod vide in wiki). Just the green parts, not the flowers; stewed and then cooked with butter in the oven.

Yes. Milk thistles (quod vide in wiki). Just the green parts, not the flowers; stewed and then cooked with butter in the oven.

Interesting, we used to gather them when I was young as food for rabbits, seem to remember trying them and they were quite bitter.

Well, it's still early - usually we have some panettone at the office the last workday before Christmas (this year it will be the 23rd).
As for the real stuff, my family's tradition (being from northern Italy) is the monster-lunch at Christmas: usually we sit down at noon and stand up again (if we're able to walk) not before six o'clock. Ravioli in broth, cappone, boiled beef, thistles, calf in sauce tonnè, crescenza, fruit mostarda, and of course panettone.
Since my fianceè is from central Italy, though, I also get the Christmas' Eve dinner, which is, of course, based on fish - though they don't like the traditional eel.

:O Can I come to your house this Christmas?

From David Sedaris:

"When do you open your Christmas presents?" is another good
conversation starter as it explains a lot about national character.
People who traditionally open gifts on Christmas Eve seem a bit
more pious and family oriented than those who wait until Christmas
morning. They go to mass, open presents, eat a late meal, return
to church the following morning, and devote the rest of the day to
eating another big meal. Gifts are generally reserved for
children, and the parents tend not to go overboard. It's nothing
I'd want for myself, but I suppose it's fine for those who prefer
food and family to things of real value.

In France and Germany, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, while
in Holland the children receive presents on December 5, in
celebration of Saint Nicholas Day. It sounded sort of quaint until
I spoke to a man named Oscar, who filled me in on a few of the
details as we walked from my hotel to the Amsterdam train station.

Unlike the jolly, obese American Santa, Saint Nicholas is painfully
thin and dresses not unlike the pope, topping his robes with a tall
hat resembling an embroidered tea cozy. The outfit, I was told, is
a carryover from his former career, when he served as a bishop in
Turkey.

One doesn't want to be too much of a cultural chauvinist, but this
seemed completely wrong to me. For starters, Santa didn't use to
do anything. He's not retired, and, more important, he has
nothing to do with Turkey. The climate's all wrong, and people
wouldn't appreciate him. When asked how he got from Turkey to the
North Pole, Oscar told me with complete conviction that Saint
Nicholas currently resides in Spain, which again is simply not
true. While he could probably live wherever he wanted, Santa chose
the North Pole specifically because it is harsh and isolated. No
one can spy on him, and he doesn't have to worry about people
coming to the door. Anyone can come to the door in Spain, and in
that outfit, he'd most certainly be recognized. On top of that,
aside from a few pleasantries, Santa doesn't speak Spanish. He
knows enough to get by, but he's not fluent, and he certainly
doesn't eat tapas.

While our Santa flies on a sled, Saint Nicholas arrives by boat
and then transfers to a white horse. The event is televised, and
great crowds gather at the waterfront to greet him. I'm not sure
if there's a set date, but he generally docks in late November and
spends a few weeks hanging out and asking people what they want.

"Is it just him alone?" I asked. "Or does he come with backup?"

Oscar's English was close to perfect, but he seemed thrown by a
term normally reserved for police reinforcement.

"Helpers," I said. "Does he have any elves?"

Maybe I'm just overly sensitive, but I couldn't help but feel
personally insulted when Oscar denounced the very idea as grotesque
and unrealistic. "Elves," he said. "They're just so silly."

The words silly and unrealistic were redefined when I learned that
Saint Nicholas travels with what was consistently described as "six
to eight black men." I asked several Dutch people to narrow it
down, but none of them could give me an exact number. It was always
"six to eight," which seems strange, seeing as they've had hundreds
of years to get a decent count.

The six to eight black men were characterized as personal slaves
until the mid-fifties, when the political climate changed and it
was decided that instead of being slaves they were just good
friends. I think history has proven that something usually comes
between slavery and friendship, a period of time marked not by
cookies and quiet times beside the fire but by bloodshed and
mutual hostility. They have such violence in Holland, but rather
than duking it out among themselves, Santa and his former slaves
decided to take it out on the public. In the early years, if a
child was naughty, Saint Nicholas and the six to eight black men
would beat him with what Oscar described as "the small branch of
a tree."

"A switch?"

"Yes," he said. "That's it. They'd kick him and beat him with a
switch. Then, if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in
a sack and take him back to Spain."

"Saint Nicholas would kick you?"

"Well, not anymore," Oscar said. "Now he just pretends to kick
you."

"And the six to eight black men?"

"Them, too."

He considered this to be progressive, but in a way I think it's
almost more perverse than the original punishment. "I'm going to
hurt you, but not really." How many times have we fallen for that
line? The fake slap invariably makes contact, adding the elements
of shock and betrayal to what had previously been plain, old-
fashioned fear. What kind of Santa spends his time pretending to
kick people before stuffing them into a canvas sack? Then, of
course, you've got the six to eight former slaves who could
potentially go off at any moment. This, I think, is the greatest
difference between us and the Dutch. While a certain segment of
our population might be perfectly happy with the arrangement, if
you told the average white American that six to eight nameless
black men would be sneaking into his house in the middle of the
night, he would barricade the doors and arm himself with whatever
he could get his hands on.

"Six to eight, did you say?"

In the years before central heating, Dutch children would leave
their shoes by the fireplace, the promise being that unless they
planned to beat you, kick you, or stuff you into a sack, Saint
Nicholas and the six to eight black men would fill your clogs
with presents. Aside from the threats of violence and kidnapping,
it's not much different from hanging your stockings from the
mantel. Now that so few people have a working fireplace, Dutch
children are instructed to leave their shoes beside the radiator,
furnace, or space heater. Saint Nicholas and the six to eight black
men arrive on horses, which jump from the yard onto the roof. At
this point, I guess, they either jump back down and use the door,
or they stay put and vaporize through the pipes and electrical
wires. Oscar wasn't too clear about the particulars, but, really,
who can blame him? We have the same problem with our Santa. He's
supposed to use the chimney, but if you don't have one, he still
manages to come through. It's best not to think about it too hard.

This is the reward for living in Holland. As a child you get to hear this story, and as an adult you get to turn around and repeat it. As an added bonus, the government has thrown in legalized drugs and prostitution-so what's not to love about being Dutch?

Well, it's still early - usually we have some panettone at the office the last workday before Christmas (this year it will be the 23rd).
As for the real stuff, my family's tradition (being from northern Italy) is the monster-lunch at Christmas: usually we sit down at noon and stand up again (if we're able to walk) not before six o'clock. Ravioli in broth, cappone, boiled beef, thistles, calf in sauce tonnè, crescenza, fruit mostarda, and of course panettone.
Since my fianceè is from central Italy, though, I also get the Christmas' Eve dinner, which is, of course, based on fish - though they don't like the traditional eel.

How does one become...Northern Italian?

How does one become...Northern Italian?

I would assume it involves being born or living in northern Italy. I could be wrong though.

Kinda like an Easter egg hunt or something? Cool!

It's fun...although lately I've let my younger sisters find it...largely because I want to wake up at an hour substantially later than 4:00 in the morning.

It's fun...although lately I've let my younger sisters find it...largely because I want to wake up at an hour substantially later than 4:00 in the morning.

No, waking up at 4:00 am is a bitch. And besides, kids have more fun.:)

BTW according to the Finnish Wiki, alchohol sale is a it's hight under christmas.
But, mostly watch the telly.

You are not understanding what I am asking...:(

Finnish Christmas traditions, like here in Spain we attend Misas de Gallo (early morning mass), at 5 in the morning and sing Chrustmas songs like "La Zarandela". That's a Chirstmas tradition. Or, in the US, caroling is another. Or like what Andaluciae posted about putting a pickle on the Christmas tree so kids wake up at 4:00 am and search for it in order to get a prize. Or Risottia's, what her fiancé's family does for Christmas. Stuff like that.

You are not understanding what I am asking...:(

Finnish Christmas traditions, like here in Spain we attend Misas de Gallo (early morning mass), at 5 in the morning and sing Chrustmas songs like "La Zarandela". That's a Chirstmas tradition. Or, in the US, caroling is another. Or like what Andaluciae posted about putting a pickle on the Christmas tree so kids wake up at 4:00 am and search for it in order to get a prize. Or Risottia's, what her fiancé's family does for Christmas. Stuff like that.

That's the thing with my mind: I can't remember stuff very well. Especially not things from last Christmas.

That's the thing with my mind: I can't remember stuff very well. Especially not things from last Christmas.

Boo hoo.

Boo hoo.

Hey, blame my brain! He's to blame here. :p

Hey, blame my brain! He's to blame here. :p

Your brain, or your alcohol consumption?:p

Your brain, or your alcohol consumption?:p

Hey, I'm 14!

Hey, I'm 14!

Hontou ka?!!!:eek:
You're 14?!!!
Oh, dear gods. I thought you were an adult.

Hontou ka?!!!:eek:
You're 24?!!!
Oh, dear gods. I thought you were an adult.

I see you skipped past posts I specifically said I'm underage.

I see you skipped past posts I specifically said I'm underage.

I didn't read any posts of yours that stated you were underage. I didn't know people as young as 14 could post here.

I didn't read any posts of yours that stated you were underage. I didn't know people as young as 14 could post here.

NSG is PG-13. And, I said in the First Date Etiquette that I'm 14.

I usually get merry and use the mistletoe as much as possible :)

kissing FTW!

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6462/mistletoe3sw9.jpg

It's fun...although lately I've let my younger sisters find it...largely because I want to wake up at an hour substantially later than 4:00 in the morning.

people sleep on Christmas eve :confused:

Hey, I'm 14!

your Finish and its Christmas *shakes head in disappointment*

edit:
NSG is PG-13. And, I said in the First Date Etiquette that I'm 14.

dude its Nanatsu, just say your 21 and that you enjoy motorboating

dude its Nanatsu, just say your 21 and that you enjoy motorboating

Whatever you're trying to imply is offensive.

Whatever you're trying to imply is offensive.

How's it offensive?

I didn't know people as young as 14 could post here.

Oh yeah. We've had 13 year olds before.

How's it offensive?

Underage sex.

How's it offensive?

That statement, unless CTP is joking (and I hope the poster is), apparently implies that I don't know better.

NS has many many posters. Most of them are 10 or older, at least that I know of and those who I interact more often. If a poster is underage, I don't always know nor am I paying much attention to. Not to be disrespectful of underage posters or anything, but mostly there are adults here.

Underage sex.

I didn't know that!

I didn't know that!

Besides Adu-kun's statement, I don't want to get into trouble speaking to a minor about some of the interesting topics discussed here.

Besides Adu-kun's statement, I don't want to get into trouble speaking to a minor about some of the interesting topics discussed here.

Naturally.

Naturally.

;)

To get back into topic, though. Another tradition in Christmas here is to go and sing to our neighbors 2 days before Christmas.

Underage sex.

lying about your age and being a general perv is what 14 year olds are supposed to do isn't it:confused:

That statement, unless CTP is joking (and I hope the poster is), apparently implies that I don't know better.

I meant it more in a whispering to WMU when your not around way :p

lying about your age and being a general perv is what 14 year olds are supposed to do isn't it:confused:

Is it now?

I meant it more in a whispering to WMU when your not around way :p

*pounces and gives you a noggie*
Bakayarou!:mad:


:wink:

;)

To get back into topic, though. Another tradition in Christmas here is to go and sing to our neighbors 2 days before Christmas.

I learnt quite a lot about Spanish Christmases today. Apparently you're up until 4 in the morning on Christmas Eve!

lying about your age and being a general perv is what 14 year olds are supposed to do isn't it:confused:


Oh yeah, we do that everyday. :rolleyes:

I learnt quite a lot about Spanish Christmases today. Apparently you're up until 4 in the morning on Christmas Eve!

Yep, drinking!:D

;)

To get back into topic, though. Another tradition in Christmas here is to go and sing to our neighbors 2 days before Christmas.

We get that from flipping November until January the 6th.

Yep, drinking!:D

You must have livers of steel.

You must have livers of steel.

We're used to it from an early age.

We're used to it from an early age.

Oh yeah. Hadn't thought of that.

Oh yeah. Hadn't thought of that.

Yes, we're given wine from an early age, and since it's a family affair and what-not, we drink bottle after bottle for Christmas eve.

Yes, we're given wine from an early age, and since it's a family affair and what-not, we drink bottle after bottle for Christmas eve.

Well that explains the state of Spain nowadays. :p

Well that explains the state of Spain nowadays. :p

Look who's posting? <.<

Look who's posting? <.<

Me?

Me?

You Brits adore beer.

You Brits adore beer.

What have I told you about that filthy word? Anyway we just pretend we're full of drunkards to make you stay away from our pubs, and therefore our beer, or Ambrosia as the gods call it.

You Brits adore beer.
I prefer spirits.

What have I told you about that filthy word? Anyway we just pretend we're full of drunkards to make you stay away from our pubs, and therefore our beer, or Ambrosia as the gods call it.

I was in London, briefly. I did not like it, perhaps the city's too clamy.

As for the Brit thing, you're British.:wink:

I was in London, briefly. I did not like it, perhaps the city's too clamy.
Thankyou, I hate that place.

I was in London, briefly. I did not like it, perhaps the city's too clamy.
I recommend York and Edinburgh. Nice cities. Hull is not that bad. Exeter is alright. Swindon and Blackpool ought to be shelled into annihilation.

Thankyou, I hate that place.

I want to visit Dover so badly.

I want to visit Dover so badly.

Visit Bristol first!

Visit Bristol first!

Bristol, Hastings, Hull, Dover. I will need a whole year to visit all the places in England I want to see.

Bristol, Hastings, Hull, Dover. I will need a whole year to visit all the places in England I want to see.

Jesus H. Christ, you don't need to visit Hull.

Jesus H. Christ, you don't need to visit Hull.

If you want to visit a 3rd world country in western Europe you do.

If you want to visit a 3rd world country in western Europe you do.

I was convinced that the women of Hull were the damned ugliest on Earth.

Jesus H. Christ, you don't need to visit Hull.

Is Hull that bad?:eek2:

I was convinced that the women of Hull were the damned ugliest on Earth.
Try Newcastle. Could you understand the accents, by the way?

My family has several traditions, some learned and some born of more practical reasons.

The one we start earliest is related to the celebration of Advent. Instead of candles, however, each week we add another pattern of Christmas lights to our home. The four spots are traditionally, by week added, the lilac bushes near the driveway, a garland under the front window, a large wreath on between two forward-facing bedroom windows, and finally a small fir tree on the side lawn.

On Christmas Eve, we go to the Midnight Mass at St. Mark's Catholic Church. My father plays bass in the music ministry and my mother often does a reading. Though my siblings and I are for the most part non-practicing and agnostic, we all enjoy this night because the building is always done up gorgeously, the music is very good, and we all enjoy a story now and then. after Mass, we go downtown for what is probably our silliest but most practical tradition, one we've started in the last five years. We go eat at the all-night Chinese buffet. Why? because when we get home, we don't have to do any dishes before going to bed. It makes things for the next 24 hours so much easier.

Before bed, we watch my dad's favourite Christmas show, the Charlie Brown special. We each open one present, and head off to bed.

In the morning, we usually are woken up by our parents at about 8 AM (it used to be the other way around, but when everyone's over 20, we tend to fall into the young-adult stereotype of sleeping all morning if allowed to). At about 9, my father's brother, his wife, and our cousin come over and we all have breakfast of tea, eggnog, and breakfast puffs, which are small cinnamon muffins from my grandmother's recipe. After breakfast we head downstairs and open our presents. As noon approaches and we finish up, my uncle and his family go off to my aunt's parents' house and we watch more holiday cartoons and whatnot.

Boxing Day is generally viewed as the day of watching all kinds of movies. This year is probably going to be the heaviest in a while, with the Dark knight, Iron man, Wall-E, and several others likely to surface.

I was convinced that the women of Hull were the damned ugliest on Earth.
Obviously you've never been to Blackpool.
Is Hull that bad?:eek2:
No.

Try Newcastle. Could you understand the accents, by the way?

No, I couldn't understand half of what was said in Hull. Maybe they were trying to warn me off.

My family has several traditions, some learned and some born of more practical reasons.

The one we start earliest is related to the celebration of Advent. Instead of candles, however, each week we add another pattern of Christmas lights to our home. The four spots are traditionally, by week added, the lilac bushes near the driveway, a garland under the front window, a large wreath on between two forward-facing bedroom windows, and finally a small fir tree on the side lawn.

On Christmas Eve, we go to the Midnight Mass at St. Mark's Catholic Church. My father plays bass in the music ministry and my mother often does a reading. Though my siblings and I are for the most part non-practicing and agnostic, we all enjoy this night because the building is always done up gorgeously, the music is very good, and we all enjoy a story now and then. after Mass, we go downtown for what is probably our silliest but most practical tradition, one we've started in the last five years. We go eat at the all-night Chinese buffet. Why? because when we get home, we don't have to do any dishes before going to bed. It makes things for the next 24 hours so much easier.

Before bed, we watch my dad's favourite Christmas show, the Charlie Brown special. We each open one present, and head off to bed.

In the morning, we usually are woken up by our parents at about 8 AM (it used to be the other way around, but when everyone's over 20, we tend to fall into the young-adult stereotype of sleeping all morning if allowed to). At about 9, my father's brother, his wife, and our cousin come over and we all have breakfast of tea, eggnog, and breakfast puffs, which are small cinnamon muffins from my grandmother's recipe. After breakfast we head downstairs and open our presents. As noon approaches and we finish up, my uncle and his family go off to my aunt's parents' house and we watch more holiday cartoons and whatnot.

Boxing Day is generally viewed as the day of watching all kinds of movies. This year is probably going to be the heaviest in a while, with the Dark knight, Iron man, Wall-E, and several others likely to surface.

Finally, a true answer to the OP!! Thank you!!:fluffle:

Is Hull that bad?:eek2:

Yes. http://www.thisisull.com/opinions/533918323_christopherchavology.html

http://www.thisisull.com/index.html

No, I couldn't understand half of what was said in Hull. Maybe they were trying to warn me off.
Eh basically it's just a Yorkshire accent, but with 'ö' replacing any faint traces of the letter 'o'. Not that hard.

Yes. http://www.thisisull.com/opinions/533918323_christopherchavology.html

http://www.thisisull.com/index.html

Oh noes! Not the chavs! I've heard horrible things about chavs and chavettes. :S

No, I couldn't understand half of what was said in Hull. Maybe they were trying to warn me off.

Here's a lesson: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=b3FXG5cElws

Yes. http://www.thisisull.com/opinions/533918323_christopherchavology.html

http://www.thisisull.com/index.html
You ever actually been to Hull?

No.

Pics please. I'm a visual person. :D

Oh noes! Not the chavs! I've heard horrible things about chavs and chavettes. :S
Aye, THEY'RE POOR :eek2:

Aye, THEY'RE POOR :eek2:

Poor? I thought they were just loud mouthed and had no manners.

Pics please. I'm a visual person. :D
It's not easy on the eye :tongue:

But it's pretty cheap, and the people are decent.

Finally, a true answer to the OP!! Thank you!!:fluffle:

Careful now, if people around here find out that honesty and cooperation lead to fluffles, there'll be an epidemic of civility.

It's not easy on the eye :tongue:

But it's pretty cheap, and the people are decent.

Not easy on the eye? You mean not aesthetically pleasing?

Let's see, Christmas tradition around here...

well, one radio station starts playing Christmas music 24/7 just before Thanksgiving Day...

the Christmas decorations in Herndon go up all around town at about the same time...

of course, we've been in the church choir, practicing extra Christmas music since August...

we've already done most of the Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving Day, because it's better to avoid crowds...

we do a family portrait two weeks before Christmas...

visitation for one of my children gets divided up on Thanksgiving/Christmas (alternating for my youngest son at my house vs. my ex-wife's house). My other children don't see their original mother at all.

I take off work a day or two before Christmas Day, just to relax.

I've already done the lights on the outside of the house by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

I take off the time between Christmas and New Year's Day. The kids are off an extra week after that.

We usually visit other family members on Christmas Day (we open presents on Christmas morning).

We have a ritual burning of the wrappings the same morning. I think the kids like this more than opening presents.

There are "required" movies to watch on Christmas Eve or before - "A Christmas Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Elf", and a few others.

four Christmas concert nights at church...

Dinner on Christmas Eve is always a standing rib roast, with everything you might expect with it (Yorkshire pudding, yes, other English puddings, no).

Poor? I thought they were just loud mouthed and had no manners.
It's a combination of the three, but they're not actually that bad if not in a big group.

Careful now, if people around here find out that honesty and cooperation lead to fluffles, there'll be an epidemic of civility.

Is that bad, Mega-kun?:eek2:

Careful now, if people around here find out that honesty and cooperation lead to fluffles, there'll be an epidemic of civility.
Not bloody likely.
Not easy on the eye? You mean not aesthetically pleasing?
Aye.

Let's see, Christmas tradition around here...

well, one radio station starts playing Christmas music 24/7 just before Thanksgiving Day...

the Christmas decorations in Herndon go up all around town at about the same time...

of course, we've been in the church choir, practicing extra Christmas music since August...

we've already done most of the Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving Day, because it's better to avoid crowds...

we do a family portrait two weeks before Christmas...

visitation for one of my children gets divided up on Thanksgiving/Christmas (alternating for my youngest son at my house vs. my ex-wife's house). My other children don't see their original mother at all.

I take off work a day or two before Christmas Day, just to relax.

I've already done the lights on the outside of the house by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

I take off the time between Christmas and New Year's Day. The kids are off an extra week after that.

We usually visit other family members on Christmas Day (we open presents on Christmas morning).

We have a ritual burning of the wrappings the same morning. I think the kids like this more than opening presents.

There are "required" movies to watch on Christmas Eve or before - "A Christmas Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Elf", and a few others.

four Christmas concert nights at church...

Dinner on Christmas Eve is always a standing rib roast, with everything you might expect with it (Yorkshire pudding, yes, other English puddings, no).

Your Holidays are quite busy.

Is that bad, Mega-kun?:eek2:

Nod bad at all, just really bizarre, I think.

But hey, 'tis the season, right? Maybe a little Christmas miracle is just what the forums need.

(Yorkshire pudding, yes, other English puddings, no).
No other puddings are worth mentioning.

Nod bad at all, just really bizarre, I think.

But hey, 'tis the season, right? Maybe a little Christmas miracle is just what the forums need.

I thought you posted "Maybe a little Christmas miracle is just that the forum nerds need." I really should check my eyes!:tongue:

No other puddings are worth mentioning.

My kids fight over the Yorkshire pudding as it comes out of the oven, and fight over the gravy...

I thought you posted "Maybe a little Christmas miracle is just that the forum nerds need." I really should check my eyes!:tongue:
To-mah-to, to-may-to.
My kids fight over the Yorkshire pudding as it comes out of the oven, and fight over the gravy...
Excellent :D

My kids fight over the Yorkshire pudding as it comes out of the oven, and fight over the gravy...

It's just that it looks so good. *drools*

It's just that it looks so good. *drools*

It smells and tastes better. Not for the vegetarian, I'm afraid...

I thought you posted "Maybe a little Christmas miracle is just that the forum nerds need." I really should check my eyes!:tongue:

Ten years ago, we'd all be considered nerds just for being able to use a computer proficiently. On the cosmic scale, that's not so far off.

It smells and tastes better. Not for the vegetarian, I'm afraid...

Indeed, it's full of meat and warm, flaky, crusty goodness.

Ten years ago, we'd all be considered nerds just for being able to use a computer proficiently. On the cosmic scale, that's not so far off.

Some here would take objection to being called nerds. :p

Indeed, it's full of meat and warm, flaky, crusty goodness.
Flaky and crusty?

Yorkshire puddings should be soft and slightly crispy.

Flaky and crusty?

Yorkshire puddings should be soft and slightly crispy.

When you bite on the crust, what happens? Some flakes fall, right. Hence, flaky goodness!

I've never had Yorkshire pudding, but back in high school, my friends and I who played the board game Diplomacy had a special strategy named after it. It involved the player using Great Britain to, upon seeing France ally with either Germany or Italy and Russia ally with Germany or Austria-Hungary, send all his units to Yorkshire, causing them to immediately bounce back to their points of origin, at which point he would then call up Turkey and make nice as best he could.

Flaky and crusty?

Yorkshire puddings should be soft and slightly crispy.

When I take the roast out to settle before carving, I pour the fat from the pan into another roasting pan, along with some of the roast bits.

Put that pan in the over, and turn the oven to 450 F.

Take the original pan, and use the leavings to start gravy.

Once the pan in the oven is really hot, I pour the batter of the pudding straight in.

The sizzle is what brings the kids running into the kitchen. That, and the smell of it all.

I've never had Yorkshire pudding, but back in high school, my friends and I who played the board game Diplomacy had a special strategy named after it. It involved the player using Great Britain to, upon seeing France ally with either Germany or Italy and Russia ally with Germany or Austria-Hungary, send all his units to Yorkshire, causing them to immediately bounce back to their points of origin, at which point he would then call up Turkey and make nice as best he could.

...:eek2:

Some here would take objection to being called nerds. :p

I'm sure they would, but some of us have learned to embrace the term.

I'm a nerd. That suits me just fine. You're a cat-girl, that seems to suit you just fine, too.

When I take the roast out to settle before carving, I pour the fat from the pan into another roasting pan, along with some of the roast bits.

Put that pan in the over, and turn the oven to 450 F.

Take the original pan, and use the leavings to start gravy.

Once the pan in the oven is really hot, I pour the batter of the pudding straight in.

The sizzle is what brings the kids running into the kitchen. That, and the smell of it all.

Kimchi, the Spaniard is hungry. This description does not help...:(

Kimchi, the Spaniard is hungry. This description does not help...:(

It doesn't help you that I make a great beef gravy, with just a touch of heavy cream in it to smooth it.

Kimchi, the Spaniard is hungry. This description does not help...:(
Eh eat some paella then, or another Spanish dish, possibly a spanish omlette. And yes, I know paella is really for gallegos :tongue:
It doesn't help you that I make a great beef gravy, with just a touch of heavy cream in it to smooth it.
Cream in gravy? Nah.

Ten years ago, we'd all be considered nerds just for being able to use a computer proficiently.

Speak for yourself.

It doesn't help you that I make a great beef gravy, with just a touch of heavy cream in it to smooth it.

http://blog.dreamhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/slap.gif
You hate me. :(

Eh eat some paella then, or another Spanish dish, possibly a spanish omlette. And yes, I know paella is really for gallegos :tongue:

Paella is eaten by all, shows how much you know.

:D

Speak for yourself.

No, NNLDI! Don't reach for the white-out!

Cream in gravy? Nah.

This.

No, NNLDI! Don't reach for the white-out!

I wasn't?

Paella is eaten by all, shows how much you know.

:D
Our Spanish assistant tried to claim that it was really from Galicia, then again she did hate freedom.

No, NNLDI! Don't reach for the white-out!

Sniff it better.:D

Our Spanish assistant tried to claim that it was really from Galicia, then again she did hate freedom.

That Gallega lied through her teeth!

This.

Some people like it to be more of a bechamel.

Some people like it to be more of a bechamel.

Makes it more creamy anyways. I like heavy gravy like that.

That Gallega lied through her teeth!
Unsurprising.
Some people like it to be more of a bechamel.
I prefer my gravies to be jus-esque.

Sniff it better.:D

Probably shouldn't give him any ideas.

Also, since we're working on making you hungry, I'll mention my grandmother's gumdrop cake. That's a holiday tradition I wish happened more often.

Unsurprising.

I prefer my gravies to be jus-esque.

Juicy is also good.

But gallegos and asturians are cousins. :D

Probably shouldn't give him any ideas.

Also, since we're working on making you hungry, I'll mention my grandmother's gumdrop cake. That's a holiday tradition I wish happened more often.

I'm leaving to eat. I hate you all!


Just kiddin'.

Gallegos and asturians are cousins. :D
*Believes not one more word of yer lies*

I'm leaving to eat. I hate you all!


Just kiddin'.
You hate us all and yer hungry?

You poor sod :tongue:

I'm leaving to eat. I hate you all!


Just kiddin'.

Have a good meal, kitty.

The song "Christmas in Killarney" pretty much sums it up for me. I currently celebrate Christmas in the Irish Catholic manner, but I'm looking further into my ancestry for other ethnic practices to syncretise into my personal celebration.

Andaluciae's pickle tradition seems pretty cool.

Normally we all dress up in christmas outfits at work and play music into the store all day. We have a few events too, and a free christmas dinner.

The song "Christmas in Killarney" pretty much sums it up for me. I currently celebrate Christmas in the Irish Catholic manner, but I'm looking further into my ancestry for other ethnic practices to syncretise into my personal celebration.

Andaluciae's pickle tradition seems pretty cool.

I sometimes wish my extended family would take more interest in our ethnic origins. I mean, I love being Canadian, but I wouldn't mind feeling really Irish, or Scottish, or English, or German for a day.



I think I'm going to follow Nan's lead and go grab a bite before i have to start running the Blood Bowl league. Evenin' folks.

I sometimes wish my extended family would take more interest in our ethnic origins. I mean, I love being Canadian, but I wouldn't mind feeling really Irish, or Scottish, or English, or German for a day.
BLEUCH.

You ex-colonials and yer desire to be something else. "Look look I'm Irish". Eugh.

My family doesn't celebrate Christmas, we go shopping on Boxing day every year though...does that count?

How does one become...Northern Italian?

Originally by being born in Milan or Turin or Venezia... nowadays it's more practical to immigrate.

Interesting, we used to gather them when I was young as food for rabbits, seem to remember trying them and they were quite bitter.

Here you can find them also precooked in the supermarkets. Saves a lot of time.
Once they're cooked, thistles are more or less a mild-taste variant of artichokes.

Well, decorating the tree this weekend....
Midnight service on December 24th....
a feast. This year I'm making goose and all the works.
Christmas Eve should have 7 fishes -- but that's the Sicilian American side of the family.

:o can i come to your house this christmas?

no! It's all mine!!! Mineee!!!!!!!!!:d:d:d

I celebrate St. Octopus Day. It is typically a long event, though the main day involves the consumption of calamari. It lasts from mid-December to the first week of January. There are gifts, but those are optional. No horrible carols or anything like that. No need for family-related crap. Just flagrant self-indulgent crap. :D
Ohhh, St. Pulpo e St. Calamari!

My family puts a pickle on the tree :)
German ancestry, then?

Nothing. We have family get togethers because my family does that at every option. I love the get togethers, food and stuff. No presents, or religion for me.

Does being grumpy every year count as a tradition?

Bah Humbug. Yes Ram it is a tradition and so to are the three ghosts that come and visit you ever year.

What kind of stuff?:confused:

Just stuff
>.>
<.<

From David Sedaris:

Wait what does he mean St Nicolas has nothing to do with Turkey? Saint Nicolas the one in which he is talking about was the bishop of Myra in what is now modern day Turkey

Hey, I'm 14!

And your point WMU? Haven't you ever had a sip of the alcohol? Not even during Christmas lunch.

I know NS is a motley bunch. We have people from all over, and since I just got a "aguinaldo" and "canata" by kids here at the office, singing Spanish Christmas songs and dancing, I wanted to know which are the Christmas traditions from your neck of the woods?

Those of you who do not celebrate Christmas can talk about their particular holiday traditions.

We put up lights on the outside of our house. They're pretty cool.

We also get a Christmas tree each year, usually a somewhat large one, and put small lights and lots of ornaments on that. And we have lots of Christmas decorations.

Another tradition of my family's is Christmas Caroling. It started when my grandparents were in college choir, and so now our family and the families of their college friends go out in a group of like, 40 or so (my family is half the group) and sing Christmas songs to people (the people we sing to always know in advance we're coming, we would never just barge in on people without permission, that's rude). Afterward we have a big party.

Then there's the Christmas Eve party at my house, Christmas morning at my grandparents' house and then Christmas dinner at my aunt's house. Pretty fun time.

Christmas in Japan can be... interesting.

Pretty much from mid-November (Japan having imported the commercial spirit of the season) you get inundated with the Christmas carols (Both translated and not) as well as Christmas illuminations (which have gotten VERY popular in Japan. The Japanese just love light displays). You also start finding little things that tell you that while Japan has adopted Christmas, it really has no clue about what the holiday is about, so finding things telling you that Christmas is a celebration of Santa-san's birthday or a Doraemon nativity scene.

Most Japanese families who celebrate Christmas will have a small (like possibly three foot tall) Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, a family will celebrate with a traditional dinner of KFC (Thanks to a hard working campaign, most Japanese equate Christmas dinner with fried chicken) and a Christmas cake for desert (A tradition I have had to explain over and over again that does NOT come from the US!). Children go to bed expecting Santa-san to use Christmas magic to open the door to their house at night, put on guest slippers and leave a present next to their bed (Some houses do stockings, but not many. Most of my students, when confronted with one, thought it was an actual sock and was to be worn).

However, if you happen to be part of a young couple, Christmas, especially Christmas Eve is considered to be one of THE most romantiku holidays. The best restaurants are booked months in advance for the all important Christmas Eve dinner with the boyfriend plying his lady love with a good dinner and something nice and sparkley (Not to mention expensive) for Christmas. The reason being of course that after the fine dinner, most couples then proceed to a love hotel (The best ones already have been booked months in advance as well) to see if said lady had donned her gay apparel, also known as shobu shitagi (lingerie fit for battle) [And no, I am NOT making this up!] as Christmas Eve ranks as the day of choice for Japanese women to lose their virginity or start sexual relations with their boyfriend.

As for me, I do my level best to keep my family's Christmas traditions. I have given ground on the idea of a turkey or crab dinner for Christmas (I do refuse, on general principal to eat KFC that day though), and I have accepted the idea of a Christmas cake, as long as I am the one to either bake it or pick it out, but other traditions such as a large tree, lights, cinnamon rolls in the morning, those remain the same.

Wait what does he mean St Nicolas has nothing to do with Turkey? Saint Nicolas the one in which he is talking about was the bishop of Myra in what is now modern day Turkey

Here in the US is what he means. Kids here think he's only associated with the North Pole.

Here in the US is what he means. Kids here think he's only associated with the North Pole.

Oh ok I thought he was talking about the Dutch version, but still St Nick was a bishop in Turkey.

And your point WMU? Haven't you ever had a sip of the alcohol? Not even during Christmas lunch.

Only at the church, at the eucharist.

This is the reward for living in Holland.

It gets better.
We ALSO celebrate Christmas. With Santa.
Yes, kids do not notice that the Bishop Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas are secretly the same guy. It is like the superman effect, only better ;)

But let us summarise:

Festival of Saint Nicholas
Evening of December 5th, though kids are allowed to place their shoe near the fireplace starting the day Saint Nicholas officially arrives in Holland. Yes, by steamboat. From Madrid. Don't ask. Accompanied by several hundred black* servants. Again, don't ask. Those shoes may or may not be filled with a present the next day, depending how good they have been and how well they sung for Saint Nicholas. It is also the time for typical types of candy, like speculaas, marzipan and chocolate shaped like the first letter of your name.

Most people celebrate the evening itself with "surprises" and "poems". The "surprise" is a gift packed in an interesting way, varying from as yucky as possible to elaborate works of art. The poems express the feelings about the lucky recipient. Sarcasm may be used.
Second most common way to celebrate is with a gift-exchanging game; where everyone brings a few gifts of predetermined value and at the end of the evening leaves with other gifts.

Christmas
Tree, gifts under the tree (no stockings), some singing, churchvisits, BIG meal. Alcohol consumption. TV showing all kinds of Christmas movies.
The standard stuff.

* Though in recent years other colours, like pink, have been observed.

Well, the tradition that's most American in character is the crass consumerism. Muslims trample people to death during their hajj to Mecca, we do it in Wal-Mart.

My family has eschewed most of the traditions and just gets together for a meal like we do on all the other holidays. I managed to kill the giving of presents by giving to charity instead.

We like to pretend debt-fueled spending is healthy

Only at the church, at the eucharist.

Ah ok I see, only messing with you, mate.

Its a Christmas tradition for me to work 18 hours.

Just stuff
>.>
<.<

Aussie, spill the beans!!!:D

We actually have some events starting already, on Saturday we had a kids fun day, with some Circus acts, face painting and a Bagpipe band. Bagpipes are fun, but not when your till is right next to them on full blast... :eek:

We actually have some events starting already, on Saturday we had a kids fun day, with some Circus acts, face painting and a Bagpipe band. Bagpipes are fun, but not when your till is right next to them on full blast... :eek:

I bet you can't hear anything at the end of the day.
When I hear bag pipes playing, my entire body vibrates so I can understand.:tongue:

I bet you can't hear anything at the end of the day.
When I hear bag pipes playing, my entire body vibrates so I can understand.:tongue:

I survived somehow. :p

This year Xmas will be comfortingly non-traditional. My gf has gone to New Zealand for a month, so I get to:

Not put up a tree
Not put up decorations
Exchange Gifts early
Sit around in my own filth without a care for a month

Yay!

Although apparently I have to cook a massive Turkey dinner for my extended family (but that I actually enjoy)

On present opening, my family traditionally spreads them out all through the day and leaves some for Boxing day. I have since learned most people go for the 'morning orgy of gifting' approach.

I survived somehow. :p

We could make it more difficult? Like I dunno.. put anthrax in the bagpipes?

We could make it more difficult? Like I dunno.. put anthrax in the bagpipes?

That would an interesting scenario.:tongue:

That would an interesting scenario.:tongue:

Well you know what they say about whatever doesn't kill you.

Well you know what they say about whatever doesn't kill you.

Yeah, I do.:D

Aussie, spill the beans!!!:D

Well for my family it is nothing much.

The tradition starts Christmas Eve with a large prawn feast for dinner, plenty and plenty of prawns almost enough to put me off prawns for the next three months. We then usually go out and see the Christmas lights around the town, though as my younger siblings are older now and no longer kids that probably won't happen this year anyway. After that we pop over a family friends house for Christmas Eve drinks and have a few.

In the morning we get up early (about 7:30) and head to church for 8 getting back about 9 depending on how many people my mother decides she just has to talk to. We then start up the Webber and my dad will chuck in a large leg of pork as well as a chicken or even a turkey (not a whole turkey mind). While this is cooking (which takes a few hours) we open the presents we have for each other. When lunch is ready which consists of roast vegetables (potato, onion, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot) as well as apple sauce, gravy, cranberry sauce (if we have turkey), as well as a bottle or two of wine. We then rest about an hour or two to let the meal go down a bit before having Christmas pudding with some muscat or port. The rest of the day is usually just resting playing a few games with each other. At dinner time it is usually a cheese platter (various cheeses, dried fruit and nuts) and we would have some port with that.

That has been how we have done it since moving half way across the continent and a fair way from the rest of the family, except for times when we have gone over.

Before that I don't remember a whole lot as I was a lot younger. I would wake up quite early and see what Santa had brought me and open presents before going to church (which was later than the one above) afterwards we would go up to my grandmothers place for lunch with everybody on my mum's side as well as opening the presents for each other. We would then head over to my Aunts place to see everybody on my dad's side of the family. We would open presents before having dinner usually a BBQ (very Aussie) which would be similar to a party a lot of drinking (not that I was drinking at that age) and for me playing with my cousins. We would be getting home just after midnight.

In saying that currently where my parents are living, a few people might have a few parties one or two days before hand. It had become a tradition for our street over the past 7 years (only has 9 households) where one of the family's held Christmas drinks for everybody in the street, but they left at the start of the year so that might not be happening.

Hope that is insightful enough for you Nanatsu. :tongue:

Well for my family it is nothing much.

The tradition starts Christmas Eve with a large prawn feast for dinner, plenty and plenty of prawns almost enough to put me off prawns for the next three months. We then usually go out and see the Christmas lights around the town, though as my younger siblings are older now and no longer kids that probably won't happen this year anyway. After that we pop over a family friends house for Christmas Eve drinks and have a few.

In the morning we get up early (about 7:30) and head to church for 8 getting back about 9 depending on how many people my mother decides she just has to talk to. We then start up the Webber and my dad will chuck in a large leg of pork as well as a chicken or even a turkey (not a whole turkey mind). While this is cooking (which takes a few hours) we open the presents we have for each other. When lunch is ready which consists of roast vegetables (potato, onion, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot) as well as apple sauce, gravy, cranberry sauce (if we have turkey), as well as a bottle or two of wine. We then rest about an hour or two to let the meal go down a bit before having Christmas pudding with some muscat or port. The rest of the day is usually just resting playing a few games with each other. At dinner time it is usually a cheese platter (various cheeses, dried fruit and nuts) and we would have some port with that.

That has been how we have done it since moving half way across the continent and a fair way from the rest of the family, except for times when we have gone over.

Before that I don't remember a whole lot as I was a lot younger. I would wake up quite early and see what Santa had brought me and open presents before going to church (which was later than the one above) afterwards we would go up to my grandmothers place for lunch with everybody on my mum's side as well as opening the presents for each other. We would then head over to my Aunts place to see everybody on my dad's side of the family. We would open presents before having dinner usually a BBQ (very Aussie) which would be similar to a party a lot of drinking (not that I was drinking at that age) and for me playing with my cousins. We would be getting home just after midnight.

In saying that currently where my parents are living, a few people might have a few parties one or two days before hand. It had become a tradition for our street over the past 7 years (only has 9 households) where one of the family's held Christmas drinks for everybody in the street, but they left at the start of the year so that might not be happening.

Hope that is insightful enough for you Nanatsu. :tongue:

It is Blou-kun. Thanks. :)

a summary of what Christmas is really like for most Americans (since most Americans want Christmas, but want to feel separate from the commercialism and religion at the same time).

idea from Seinfeld:

The origins of the Festivus celebration can be dated back to one (fictional) man's refusal to conform to the increased commercialism and consumerism which has saturated the December holiday season. This man's name is Frank Costanza. During a routine outing to secure a Christmas gift for his son George, events transpired which would forever change the landscape of the holiday season.

In his own words: "Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had -- but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way! [The doll] was destroyed. But out of that, a new holiday was born. 'A Festivus for the rest of us!'"

From this altercation, Frank Costanza embarked on a quest to create a festival which did not include the material and superficial aspects of most winter holidays. Many people celebrate Festivus on the 23rd day of December, but due to the nonconformist aspect of the holiday, it may be celebrated whenever one so chooses. Let's take a look at the three major elements which make up the Festivus Holiday...

As a symbol of the anti-holiday commercialization, devotees of Festivus display a large pole in a prominent location in their home or dwelling. The pole is aluminum, chosen due to its very high strength-to-weight ratio, and is never decorated (this stems from founder Frank Costanza's belief that "tinsel is distracting"). After the celebration is over, it is not uncommon for a pole to be placed in an out-of-the-way place, such as a crawl space.

"Welcome, new comers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you're gonna hear about it!" -Frank Costanza

During the Festivus celebration, friends and family come together to recognize the holiday with an annual dinner. While no specific foods are relevant to the holiday, the dinner contains the most vocal of the Festivus traditions: the Airing of Grievances.

During the Airing of Grievances, a Festivus devotee informs all those in attendance how they disappointed him the year before. It is also a time to report any ongoing problem or irritation that one is having with anyone else celebrating at the dinner. Everyone in attendance is given the chance to speak before the last tradition of Festivus begins...

In accordance with Festivus tradition, the celebration may not end until two people participate in a contest known as the Feats of Strength. During this event, the head of the household (or the host of the Festivus dinner) challenges one of the guests to a test of physical strength. The challenger may choose anyone as an opponent and a challenge may not be refused unless, of course, the challenged has a previous engagement.

In order to obtain victory in the Feats of Strength, one must pin their opponent to the ground. There are various definitions of what constitutes a "pin" during the duel, but the most common is the standard 3 count. (Some accept a "tap out" due to submission as an acceptable way to end the contest.) Until the head of the household is pinned, the Festivus celebration is not officially over.

here's what we (my family) do:

Christmas Eve is pretty much like any other day. there's more xmas stuff on the telly, and we're probably not working or we go home early. we have a nice dinner in the dining room (which never gets used apart from at xmas and new year) and that's about it. usually we've been having log fires for a month or two, but on Xmas Eve we always make sure its a nice one with coal and logs.

the christmas tree has usually been up for a week or more by this time. most town centres usually have a big tree as well. xmas lights & decorations are also on in town centres, and our own little tree (about 4 or 5 foot) is decorated with lights and baubels... no tinsel cos my mum hates it :P
we don't do lights on the outside of the house... its kinda felt over here that its a bit vulgar and american. nobody on our street does it - instead you put your xmas tree by the front window of your house, and usually light candles in the window, too. looks all pretty and sweet :)

Xmas Day: wake up, have breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (quite traditional) before sitting round tree and opening presents. then we all go do our own things for a while, start up a coal/log fire which will be going all day, get stuff done in the kitchen and get back together for a big roast turkey at about 2pm. the turkey consists of roast turkey (duh) coated in bacon, different types of stuffing, roast potatoes, roast carrots in butter, parsnips, more assorted vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, and afterwards a traditional flaming christmas pudding... which i don't eat because they're revolting. oh, and we have xmas crackers with stupid jokes.
after lunch, we fall asleep in front of the fire watching crap xmas movies on tv, play some board games, and go to sleep.

Boxing Day: another day off. usually sleep late, get up and have a light breakfast, and spend a lot of the day doing whatever. but we always make sure we go on our family's traditional boxing day walk, which usually takes us to the seaside... even if its fucking snowing and we have to wear 14 jumpers just to stay warm. for lunch its leftover turkey with chips, more puddings, and more sleepy fireside lazing about/napping.

though this year, again, my g/f and i will be spending xmas proper with our respective families. so we're having our own special 'xmas' to ourselves the day after boxing day :)


i guess its fairly similar to a lot of english & american people's xmas

Christmas in Japan can be... interesting.

Pretty much from mid-November (Japan having imported the commercial spirit of the season) you get inundated with the Christmas carols (Both translated and not) as well as Christmas illuminations (which have gotten VERY popular in Japan. The Japanese just love light displays). You also start finding little things that tell you that while Japan has adopted Christmas, it really has no clue about what the holiday is about, so finding things telling you that Christmas is a celebration of Santa-san's birthday or a Doraemon nativity scene.

Most Japanese families who celebrate Christmas will have a small (like possibly three foot tall) Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, a family will celebrate with a traditional dinner of KFC (Thanks to a hard working campaign, most Japanese equate Christmas dinner with fried chicken) and a Christmas cake for desert (A tradition I have had to explain over and over again that does NOT come from the US!). Children go to bed expecting Santa-san to use Christmas magic to open the door to their house at night, put on guest slippers and leave a present next to their bed (Some houses do stockings, but not many. Most of my students, when confronted with one, thought it was an actual sock and was to be worn).

However, if you happen to be part of a young couple, Christmas, especially Christmas Eve is considered to be one of THE most romantiku holidays. The best restaurants are booked months in advance for the all important Christmas Eve dinner with the boyfriend plying his lady love with a good dinner and something nice and sparkley (Not to mention expensive) for Christmas. The reason being of course that after the fine dinner, most couples then proceed to a love hotel (The best ones already have been booked months in advance as well) to see if said lady had donned her gay apparel, also known as shobu shitagi (lingerie fit for battle) [And no, I am NOT making this up!] as Christmas Eve ranks as the day of choice for Japanese women to lose their virginity or start sexual relations with their boyfriend.

As for me, I do my level best to keep my family's Christmas traditions. I have given ground on the idea of a turkey or crab dinner for Christmas (I do refuse, on general principal to eat KFC that day though), and I have accepted the idea of a Christmas cake, as long as I am the one to either bake it or pick it out, but other traditions such as a large tree, lights, cinnamon rolls in the morning, those remain the same.

lol that's fantastic! :tongue:
i particularly love the stuff about KFC and Xmas Eve being #1 virgin sex night :p

going to japan to experience their xmas sounds like a lot of fun ;) but my g/f (hopefully, one day, wife) is really a xmas traditionalist... i want to go to Australia and have a BBQ turkey on the beach, while decorating a palm tree (or something) with tinsel... but she says a flat 'no' to that :(

going to japan to experience their xmas sounds like a lot of fun ;) but my g/f (hopefully, one day, wife) is really a xmas traditionalist... i want to go to Australia and have a BBQ turkey on the beach, while decorating a palm tree (or something) with tinsel... but she says a flat 'no' to that :(

A palm tree? You don't see to many of them around. Bugger the turkey just have a BBQ.

Christmas in Japan can be... interesting.

Pretty much from mid-November (Japan having imported the commercial spirit of the season) you get inundated with the Christmas carols (Both translated and not) as well as Christmas illuminations (which have gotten VERY popular in Japan. The Japanese just love light displays). You also start finding little things that tell you that while Japan has adopted Christmas, it really has no clue about what the holiday is about, so finding things telling you that Christmas is a celebration of Santa-san's birthday or a Doraemon nativity scene.

KAWAII!!!!

Most Japanese families who celebrate Christmas will have a small (like possibly three foot tall) Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, a family will celebrate with a traditional dinner of KFC (Thanks to a hard working campaign, most Japanese equate Christmas dinner with fried chicken) and a Christmas cake for desert (A tradition I have had to explain over and over again that does NOT come from the US!). Children go to bed expecting Santa-san to use Christmas magic to open the door to their house at night, put on guest slippers and leave a present next to their bed (Some houses do stockings, but not many. Most of my students, when confronted with one, thought it was an actual sock and was to be worn).

That's hilarious. KFC is Christmas dinner!:D

However, if you happen to be part of a young couple, Christmas, especially Christmas Eve is considered to be one of THE most romantiku holidays. The best restaurants are booked months in advance for the all important Christmas Eve dinner with the boyfriend plying his lady love with a good dinner and something nice and sparkley (Not to mention expensive) for Christmas. The reason being of course that after the fine dinner, most couples then proceed to a love hotel (The best ones already have been booked months in advance as well) to see if said lady had donned her gay apparel, also known as shobu shitagi (lingerie fit for battle) [And no, I am NOT making this up!] as Christmas Eve ranks as the day of choice for Japanese women to lose their virginity or start sexual relations with their boyfriend.

That, by Jove, sounds so much like St. Valentine's Day in the US.

As for me, I do my level best to keep my family's Christmas traditions. I have given ground on the idea of a turkey or crab dinner for Christmas (I do refuse, on general principal to eat KFC that day though), and I have accepted the idea of a Christmas cake, as long as I am the one to either bake it or pick it out, but other traditions such as a large tree, lights, cinnamon rolls in the morning, those remain the same.

Good, your son needs to grow knowing as much from his mom's culture as his dad's. I always commend parents when they do try to keep their traditions alive regardless of wether they live in their native country or in an entire different one.

I was wondering (I know this isn't a Christmas thing) if you plan on teaching your son English?

Bah humbug!

Oh ok I thought he was talking about the Dutch version, but still St Nick was a bishop in Turkey.
well what is the australian version of santa claus like?

I make the Non Plus Ultra...
And Italo-Russian salad in HUGE amounts.

A Czech tradition is that we have fishermen selling carps from big vats at every street corner.

well what is the australian version of santa claus like?

Steve Irwin with a white beard, maybe?:D

Steve Irwin with a white beard, maybe?:D
with the presents being carried on the backs of crocodiles?

with the presents being carried on the backs of crocodiles?

Or in the pouch of a kangoroo. :D

Or in the pouch of a kangoroo. :D
hmmmm, having seen the dutch "6 to 8 black men" on youtube....

could they do kangaroos in blackface?

hmmmm, having seen the dutch "6 to 8 black men" on youtube....

could they do kangaroos in blackface?

I'm sure they could.

hmmmm, having seen the dutch "6 to 8 black men" on youtube....

could they do kangaroos in blackface?

Some days I'm glad that youtube is blocked at this computer.

Decorating our tree is what always started the Christmas season in my family. That would usually be early on in December. We'd get out our boxes of ornaments, my parents would make lots of hot chocolate, and we'd all start decorating. Christmas carols would always play in the background, and we'd always start these off with a sing-along video with Disney characters. We usually had an advent calendar, too. My favourite ones were always the ones that had chocolate, not the reusable ones where you get a different ornament/decoration every day.

We always made lots of cookies for the Christmas season, but my family doesn't have any particular Christmas cookie recipes. My husband's mom, on the other hand, has a set of cookie recipes that she only makes during the Christmas season. They are really yummy, and she makes TONS of them.

My family never really did anything special for Christmas eve. We'd go to midnight mass, then just come home. When I was little we'd always leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa, too.

On Christmas day, we would open the gifts in our stockings (usually lots of candy, and little presents/toys), open the gifts under the tree, then eat our Christmas breakfast. We didn't have a family tradition for the breakfast, so it varied year to year depending on what we felt like making. The breakfast was always the big meal of the day, so we didn't do a Christmas dinner. Instead we'd make lots of food throughout the day to munch on (ham slices, crab legs, soup, etc. in small portions).

I've spent Christmas with my husband's family for the past few years. My in-laws live in the same town as my father-in-law's cousin's family, so one family does a big Christmas eve dinner and has everyone over, and the other family does Christmas dinner. It's fun, and I imagine less stressful than cooking big meals two nights in a row. On Christmas morning with them, we open stockings, then have breakfast, then open presents.

Overall, nothing terribly unusual.

KAWAII!!!!
More like disturbing sometimes. Every year I run into something that just leaves me shaking my head.

That's hilarious. KFC is Christmas dinner!:D
KFC REALLY outdid itself on that one. From the end of November through Christmas, I see tons of KFC commercials all centered around the idea of a Japanese family getting together for Christmas dinner with a big bucket full of the Colonel's Original Recipe. Each store also dresses up their Colonel Sanders statue as Santa Claus.

It's actually to the point where when I tell my students that Americans DON'T eat KFC for Christmas and actually we would view that as rather strange, they are shocked.

That, by Jove, sounds so much like St. Valentine's Day in the US.
Yes, yes it does. Of course Japan has changed Valentine's Day as well.

I was wondering (I know this isn't a Christmas thing) if you plan on teaching your son English?
Sadly my son's father (me) is an English teacher, so he doesn't have a choice on if or not he is going to learn English. ;)

Before my son was born, my wife and I agreed that I would only speak and respond to him in English and my wife would only speak and respond to him in Japanese. She has bended that a little bit to speak half in English and half in Japanese when I'm home from work because she doesn't want me to feel like I'm being left out (My wife's command of English is far, far, superior to my command of Japanese), but mostly we stick to that and try our best to give him as equal a time in both languages as possible. So we have English DVDs that we watch every night after my wife watches Japanese TV. We have both English and Japanese children's books that are read to him. Now if it's working or not, it's hard to tell. My son seems to be saying "Da-jii" (Daddy) and "wan wan" (Japanese for doggy), but it's not clear if he is actually assigning meaning to those words or if he's just making noise.

Some days I'm glad that youtube is blocked at this computer.
you shouldnt be.

reading it in hotwife's post was hilarious but it is even more funny to hear it in david sedaris' slightly truman capote-esque voice while video and photos of the actual celebration are shown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCUHTDrca4s

you shouldnt be.

reading it in hotwife's post was hilarious but it is even more funny to hear it in david sedaris' slightly truman capote-esque voice while video and photos of the actual celebration are shown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCUHTDrca4s

David Sedaris rules.

David Sedaris rules.
yes he does

thanks for posting that story. i read it to my son, looked it up on youtube, we both listened to it, i sent it to my sister, then she, her daugher and i listened to it again this morning.

it cracked me up every time.

well what is the australian version of santa claus like?

Exacatly the same as in the US and the UK.

Or in the pouch of a kangoroo. :D

Your not that far from the truth Nanatsu. While we would still refer to reindeer there is a song called Six white Boomers (Boomers aka Kangaroos) that carry Santa Claus across the Australian sun.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSsffF2xhA

And Italo-Russian salad in HUGE amounts.


I remember.

Your not that far from the truth Nanatsu. While we would still refer to reindeer there is a song called Six white Boomers (Boomers aka Kangaroos) that carry Santa Claus across the Australian sun.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSsffF2xhA

Oh crickey! That sounds hilarious mate!:D

More like disturbing sometimes. Every year I run into something that just leaves me shaking my head.

Well, Japan surely is a strange place, you know. The land of anime and otakus... although it's not only that as we all know.:wink:

KFC REALLY outdid itself on that one. From the end of November through Christmas, I see tons of KFC commercials all centered around the idea of a Japanese family getting together for Christmas dinner with a big bucket full of the Colonel's Original Recipe. Each store also dresses up their Colonel Sanders statue as Santa Claus.

Good propaganda never hurt a restaurant.

It's actually to the point where when I tell my students that Americans DON'T eat KFC for Christmas and actually we would view that as rather strange, they are shocked.

I guess it's the same with how the rest of the world views Japan. One of my co-workers once told me that the Japanese only eat raw and creepy things and drink tea and are full of whoring geishas. Nothing could be further from the truth and when I told her, she was appalled.

Yes, yes it does. Of course Japan has changed Valentine's Day as well.

Valentine's Day is for girls in Japan, right? And White Day is for boy to reciprocate for the chocolates and gifts recieved in Valentine's, is that how it is?

Sadly my son's father (me) is an English teacher, so he doesn't have a choice on if or not he is going to learn English. ;)

Before my son was born, my wife and I agreed that I would only speak and respond to him in English and my wife would only speak and respond to him in Japanese. She has bended that a little bit to speak half in English and half in Japanese when I'm home from work because she doesn't want me to feel like I'm being left out (My wife's command of English is far, far, superior to my command of Japanese), but mostly we stick to that and try our best to give him as equal a time in both languages as possible. So we have English DVDs that we watch every night after my wife watches Japanese TV. We have both English and Japanese children's books that are read to him. Now if it's working or not, it's hard to tell. My son seems to be saying "Da-jii" (Daddy) and "wan wan" (Japanese for doggy), but it's not clear if he is actually assigning meaning to those words or if he's just making noise.

I commend you on yours and your wife's inniciative to teach your son to be bilingual. That will help him in the future. :)

Oh crickey! That sounds hilarious mate!:D

lol, it's a great song and one I remember performing at a school christmas concert.

I always enjoy songs by Rolf Harris

lol, it's a great song and one I remember performing at a school christmas concert.

I always enjoy songs by Rolf Harris

I would like to listen to it. What's more, I would like to hear you sionging it while you're wearing nothing but a Santa hat, a fake white beard and black boots. :p

I would like to listen to it. What's more, I would like to hear you sionging it while you're wearing nothing but a Santa hat, a fake white beard and black boots. :p

Doesn't the link work for you?

lol, don't do this to me Nanatsu :tongue: (no I love it) Only if your willing to sing a carol to me in nothing but a ribbon tied around you?

We could make it a tradition between us. :wink:

Doesn't the link work for you?

lol, don't do this to me Nanatsu :tongue: (no I love it) Only if your willing to sing a carol to me in nothing but a ribbon?

We could make it a tradition between us.

I could go for the ribbon thing. You want it to be red or black?:D

I could go for the ribbon thing. You want it to be red or black?:D

Ohh decisions decisions. The thing about wrapping is that it is usually ripped off and discarded and is thus pointless.

And with you underneath it would be ripped off before you know it. lol

But I would have to go with the red one, much more sexy. As if the colour would change the sexiness with you involved.

All I have to say is: Pics. Or it never happened.

All I have to say is: Pics. Or it never happened.

What you want a pic of me wearing a red hat a fake white beard and a pair of black boots and nothing else?

Ohh decisions decisions. The thing about wrapping is that it is usually ripped off and discarded and is thus pointless.

And with you underneath it would be ripped off before you know it. lol

But I would have to go with the red one, much more sexy. As if the colour would change the sexiness with you involved.

I rather like the idea of the red ribbon too. A tradition it is. :D

What you want a pic of me wearing a red hat a fake white beard and a pair of black boots and nothing else?

I rather like the idea of the red ribbon too. A tradition it is. :D

Both!

And no, not for blackmail purposes.

I rather like the idea of the red ribbon too. A tradition it is. :D

Yes!!! I'll be over in time for Christmas :)

Both!

And no, not for blackmail purposes.

Poster sized or regualr size? :p

Yes!!! I'll be over in time for Christmas :)

Schiraz and cheese to recieve you? Or wine and nakedness under the Christmas tree?:D

Poster sized or regualr size? :p

Hmm... I like the idea of poster sized.

Hmm... I like the idea of poster sized.

Ok, I'll tell Santa.

Schiraz and cheese to recieve you? Or wine and nakedness under the Christmas tree?:D

I like the second option :D

Me, naked will be what you find in your christmas stocking Christmas morning, a litte present from Santa. :tongue:

I like the second option :D

Me, naked will be what you find in your christmas stocking Christmas morning, a litte present from Santa. :tongue:

I believe I'll see you with a Christmas stocking, but not you inside of it. It will be covering a tasty bit of yours. An Aussie Christmas elf in Madrid. :D

I believe I'll see you with a Christmas stocking, but not you inside of it. It will be covering a tasty bit of yours. An Aussie Christmas elf in Madrid. :D

This is getting kinda awkward for me.

I believe I'll see you with a Christmas stocking, but not you inside of it. It will be covering a tasty bit of yours. An Aussie Christmas elf in Madrid. :D

lmao

I never thought of that haha

It will be waiting for you to unwrap it.

This is getting kinda awkward for me.

We are just giving you ideas for presents for your future missus, kido.

But tell the truth mate you know you love reading this. lol

We are just giving you ideas for presents for your future missus, kido.

But tell the truth mate you know you love reading this. lol

Of course he/she does. It's pleasantly sinful to.:fluffle:

We are just giving you ideas for presents for your future missus, kido.

But tell the truth mate you know you love reading this. lol

Yeah.

Of course he/she does. It's pleasantly sinful to.:fluffle:

He.

Of course he/she does. It's pleasantly sinful to.:fluffle:

It's why he keeps checking in on this thread lol

It's why he keeps checking in on this thread lol

That is exactly why! :p

It's why he keeps checking in on this thread lol

Say, we could consider these exchanges as NSG doujinshi and mild-hentai. LOL! He's 14 and I bet he'll love it.:D

Say, we could consider these exchanges as NSG doujinshi and mild-hentai. LOL! He's 14 and I bet he'll love it.:D

lol, yeah maybe it is, as long as we don't involve him we should be right with the hentai thing lol.

lol, yeah maybe it is, as long as we don't involve him we should be right with the hentai thing lol.

So desu, so desu. Maybe Max Barry should write doujinshi about NSG. We are all hilarious characters. LOL!

So desu, so desu. Maybe Max Barry should write doujinshi about NSG. We are all hilarious characters. LOL!

lol, well it has been awhile since he wrote a new one. We have given him plenty of material to work with on the magna side of things.

And what does "so desu" mean?

lol, well it has been awhile since he wrote a new one. We have given him plenty of material to work with on the magna side of things.

I would venture and say that, with the varied topics discussed on NSG, Mr. Barry could write several books, not only manga ones.

He could even write a book of stories about NSGers. We could become the next Twilight or Beverly Hills 90210. LMAO!:D

So desu means indeed.

I would venture and say that, with the varied topics discussed on NSG, Mr. Barry could write several books, not only manga ones.

He could even write a book of stories about NSGers. We could become the next Twilight or Beverly Hills 90210. LMAO!:D

So desu means indeed.

lmao, he could retire from the material we have given him.

lmao, he could retire from the material we have given him.

He'll be a billionaire. He'll play golf with Bill Gates. LOL!

He'll be a billionaire. He'll play golf with Bill Gates. LOL!

lol

We could become the next Twilight or Beverly Hills 90210. LMAO!:D


Please, PLEASE no.

Please, PLEASE no.

:D
Hehehe!

oh the simple tree, stockings, presents, dinner (usually gorgeous food) then mucking about for a week.
although this year i can't afford good presents. damn i still need to buy some pressies.

hungry now so ill leave this thread for a few hours.
remember, during the winter chill have a crill.
what are you looking at? it makes sense to me....honest....<.<.....>.>.......